Perestroika: The Last Attempt to Create the New Soviet Person

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Perestroika is most frequently interpreted retrospectively, as the final stage in the Soviet Union’s demise and part of a broader transition to capitalist democracy. Dr. Courtney Doucette goes back to the reforms’ inception in 1985, however, to study the intentions of perestroika’s architects. With discussant Steven Harris, Doucette will analyze how these pivotal reforms were designed to overcome a pervasive moral crisis by refreshing the populace and attempting to create a more engaged Soviet citizen.

The Wilson Center, chartered by Congress as the living memorial to President Woodrow Wilson, is the nation’s key non-partisan policy forum. In tackling global issues through independent research and open dialogue, the Center informs actionable ideas for Congress, the administration, and the broader policy community.